Problems paying Provident loans

[honeybee13]

Hi guys.

 

I would really appreciate some help with this. A member of my OH's family has run up at least £3k credit with Provident.

 

 

She is very unwell at the moment and has been hospitalised and her doctors are concerned about the impact of all of this on her mental wellbeing.

 

I've seen agreements for 2 loans that I think are currently running, costing £30 and £200 a month each, but I haven't seen all the paperwork yet.

 

Her husband has been signed off sick from work and is only receiving SSP and possibly some benefits.

This means he can't afford next week's payments - what can he do please?

 

The other concern is that their finances weren't sufficient to fund this borrowing so it could be irresponsible lending.

 

Should we be sending off an SAR please? Thank you for any thoughts you have on this muddle.

 

HB

[Bazooka Boo]

First things first I would be contacting Provi and informing them that these repayments are unaffordable, that their circumstances have changed dramatically, and for the foreseeable future, payments will be reduced to the legal token payment of £1 a month.

 

Inform them of ill health, but obviously don't give in to their demands to view confidential doctors notes or letters to 'confirm' this.

 

Provi only provide loans between 100 and 1000, and even a 1000 loan spread over the full 52 weeks is only £35 a week?

http://www.providentpersonalcredit.com/

 

SAR could well be a good start,

[honeybee13]

Thank you BB.

 

I was interested to see the £100 to £1000 figures on the website as well. One of the loan agreements I have a copy of definitely says £2,500 repayable at £50 a week for 110 weeks.

 

Should correspondence go to their Bradford address please? And why wouldn't you show them copies of doctors' letters?

 

HB

[Bazooka Boo]

Should correspondence go to their Bradford address please? And why wouldn't you show them copies of doctors' letters

 

Simply because they are strictly private and confidential, between Dr & patient, don't let these loan sharks get above their station!

 

Not sure about the Address?

This is their debt 'advice' http://www.providentpersonalcredit.com/loan-repayment-difficulties/

 

But seeing as they're registered at the Bradford address, I would think it would be perfectly correct to send it there?

[honeybee13]

I'll send you a PM, BB.

 

HB

[Bazooka Boo]

Yes got it cheers!

 

All read and understood, did reply but either yours or my message box is full?

 

Anyhow, if that's all it says, I don't see any problem.

 

If they then begin demanding anything further, then the complaints can start to roll in, after all, they're not medically trained/qualified, so that info the Dr has provided should be fine.

 

Plus it's always better to send it before they request it, it can only help them in this situation.

 

If they refuse to help or frustrate the process, then it will only ever go against them if it ever reaches the dizzy heights of legal action,

which I don't think it will...

[honeybee13]

Thank you for that.

 

HB

[citizenB]

Is this being paid at the door or via a Direct Debit, HB ?

 

If by DD - then get that stopped immediately. Any payments that might be made after the DD has been cancelled, can be reclaimed using the DD guarantee.

[honeybee13]

Paid at the door weekly, CB.

 

HB

[fkofilee]

Can i throw my 2 cents in on this? ^__^

 

I suspect that the loan agent will get very pushy especially after knowing payment wont be forthcoming.

Can I make a suggestion that someone sits round with them and records everything that they say privately so that you are both covered.

 

I would also suggest that the payments are dropped to £1 / Week / Month depending on what they can do.

As advice for what you have given me, these arent priority debts and even so, if it did go to court then i suspect that either these would get reduced heavily / payment plan agreed and stuck to £1 a week or they get written off due to the unwell nature of the wife.

Is it just her on the agreement? If so then, they cant force the Husband to pick up the debts as he is not the "debtor" in question.

 

Please Please Please... It might be worth emailing [email protected] and complaining about the irresponsible lending.

Also on the other side, make sure you tell those 2 that they are in good hands and are going to be okay, last thing they need is to be worrying about this , It takes its toll, something I only know all too well.

[honeybee13]

Thank you for that, fkofilee, I'm very grateful for the advice.

 

I'm considering going there myself if it's going to get tricky. I'll post a bit more later.

 

HB

[silverfox1961]

My daughter has a provi loan and TBH, affordability never enters the equation. Irresponsible lending is their modus operandi!

 

I am hoping the loans are in one name only. Both names, both liable.

 

While I wouldn't want any personal info given out, the consultant at the hospital may be able to do a letter which may help the situation.

 

Once the SAR comes back (is she mentally capable of understanding the letter of authority?) you can then soon see if they have loaned without the relevant checks. Also check the credit files.

 

IF the loans are in her name and no real prospect of recovery in the long term, I would hope that provi write it off

[honeybee13]

I've seen separate loan agreements for the same amount in both names, if that makes sense. It's not clear if it's one loan or two at this stage.

 

For now, I would say she isn't capable of understanding the LOA atm.

 

Correction, they're not loan agreements, they're pre-contract information print-outs.

 

HB

Edited May 27, 2015 by honeybee13

[obiter dictum]

I have had my share of DCA chasing me and i found out provident were OK after you get through the first layer collections

 

i had taken out a Satsuma loan, it was for £500 payable back weekly. I suffered a major medical condition and was ill health retired from work. They were pushy (Provident) to begin with but i stuck to my guns. I paid back £10 a week and stuck to it. It was a struggle and made the last payment last week. As i negotiated etc they did not default me with the credit agencies, just arrangement to pay.

 

All i can say is phone them and ask to be put in touch with the collections dept/ Credit control. I might have just struck lucky, or they really do subscribe to helping borrowers in financial difficulty

[honeybee13]

I have had my share of DCA chasing me and i found out provident were OK after you get through the first layer collections

 

i had taken out a Satsuma loan, it was for £500 payable back weekly. I suffered a major medical condition and was ill health retired from work. They were pushy (Provident) to begin with but i stuck to my guns. I paid back £10 a week and stuck to it. It was a struggle and made the last payment last week. As i negotiated etc they did not default me with the credit agencies, just arrangement to pay.

 

All i can say is phone them and ask to be put in touch with the collections dept/ Credit control. I might have just struck lucky, or they really do subscribe to helping borrowers in financial difficulty

 

Thank you, that's very helpful.

 

HB

[Bazooka Boo]

If you do ring them, make sure Truecall is plugged in and good to go!!

[honeybee13]

[honeybee13]

Can i throw my 2 cents in on this? ^__^

 

I suspect that the loan agent will get very pushy especially after knowing payment wont be forthcoming.

Can I make a suggestion that someone sits round with them and records everything that they say privately so that you are both covered.

 

I would also suggest that the payments are dropped to £1 / Week / Month depending on what they can do.

As advice for what you have given me, these arent priority debts and even so, if it did go to court then i suspect that either these would get reduced heavily / payment plan agreed and stuck to £1 a week or they get written off due to the unwell nature of the wife.

Is it just her on the agreement? If so then, they cant force the Husband to pick up the debts as he is not the "debtor" in question.

 

Please Please Please... It might be worth emailing [email protected] and complaining about the irresponsible lending.

Also on the other side, make sure you tell those 2 that they are in good hands and are going to be okay, last thing they need is to be worrying about this , It takes its toll, something I only know all too well.

 

Hello and thank you for replying. We shall certainly complain if the SAR throws anything up about irresponsible lending, etc.

 

Noted about someone being there and the recording. Apparently the agent doesn't have a set time to arrive and just rings to say they're on their way. I don't live close to these people, so need time to get there. My OH has just downloaded a sound recorder onto his smartphone, so I can use that if the member of the family can't record. Or maybe I'll do it as a back up.

 

I plan to type up the SAR request and an adapted template letter from our library asking to reduce payments, to be sent to head office. Another member of the site team has suggested that he writes to head office to explain the problems, with the letter from the hospital and his I&E sheet. Then tell him not to let the agent in and hand them a copy of the letter [without the personal information] on the next collection day.

 

Can he sign the letters on behalf of both of them?

 

HB

[Bazooka Boo]

Can he sign the letters on behalf of both of them?

 

I don't see why not, given the current state of her mental health, only a fool would try and claim they can't accept anything without her sig on it.

 

Have you had a look through MALG?

http://www.malg.org.uk/debtmentalhealth.html

[honeybee13]

Thank you for the link, BB, that's very interesting.

 

What name should go on the postal order going with the SAR please? Is it Provident Personal Credit Ltd?

 

HB

[Bazooka Boo]

I've no idea sorry, just been on their website to try and find out, and came across this little gem!

 

I had my first Provident loan when I was 18, and I’m 43 now so I think that’s a good indicator of customer satisfaction!

http://www.providentpersonalcredit.com/complaints-procedure/

 

25 years to pay off his loan from when he was 18!!!

 

OK, OK, I know what they're saying really....

[honeybee13]

[fkofilee]

Agree with BB, Great idea...

However, also send a copy of the letter, slightly amended saying a SAR Request is being sent and you are complaining.

 

Secretly, I wanna see these written off

[fkofilee]

Christ those testimonials are shocking..'

[honeybee13]

Agree with BB, Great idea...

However, also send a copy of the letter, slightly amended saying a SAR Request is being sent and you are complaining.

 

Secretly, I wanna see these written off

 

I've done separate letters for the SAR and asking to pay token payments. I was going to see what the SAR says before complaining, are you saying that should be mentioned now?

 

HB